Augduck

I have no insights into the process but the conventional wisdom seems to be that Bray will get the job. He certainly at this point is not one of the coaches going with Smith so my assumption is the wheels were already in motion to elevate him. But they have to do due diligence I guess.

Was talking with a DUCK friend last night and he reminded me of how all his OS friends in Portland chided him big time when Mario jumped. They said over and over, 'we never have to worry about this because we have our guy and he will be a lifer and take us to the promise land'. My friend said his OS buddies have suddenly gone silent.

Always appreciate your insights Mike. Just saying, I am big time nervous. Good thing I work from home so I can take periodic breaks to calm down. Friday seems like a long time away. Maybe I need to take some long lunches these next few days.

According to JC the candidates are: Trent Bray- current DC and former OS player Brent Brennan- SJSU coach Josh Gattis- was Mario's OC last year and was also at Michigan. I believe Mario fired him after last year Matt Wells- current offensive analyst at Oklahoma Paul Chryst Bronco Mendenhall- guess he is looking to get back into coaching after a couple of years away- also is a former OS player and former asst @ OS Troy Calhoun- current coach at Air Force and has been an asst for a couple of NFL teams

Not trying to be nasty here in anyway so please hear me out and this is totally off topic of Mario's QB hitting the portal but it made me think about something. Maybe Mario is a better assistant than a head coach. Nothing wrong with that. Some people are great individual contributors as opposed to managers in the business world. I had an opportunity to meet Mario in 2018. It was in a social setting ( fund raiser for athletics). I came away thinking how he did not have the 'it' factor and he frankly was a little surly. He literally could not wait to get out of the event. It was almost like he was uncomfortable in a social setting. I know in college football the 'it factor' that takes on many meanings but there was something about him that just rubbed me wrong. I will always support whomever the coach is (Taggart being the exception for me breaking my rule) but something was just missing there for me. Fast forward to DL whom I also had the opportunity to meet in a social setting. Let's just say he gave new meaning to the 'it' factor. Back to our regularly scheduled programming .......

I am somewhat dubious that Mario may have grown as a coach. He is always the smartest man in the room. Then again maybe he has been humbled a bit.

He is not coming off well in ANY of these interviews he is doing. First it was the one with JC, then his post game presser, then the clip where he says he was planning to leave all along. Sheesh- stop talking and just invoke the standard line, 'it was an opportunity I just could not pass up'.

Were there not some rumors that his parents were very unhappy with Mario? Thought I read that somewhere. Not that it matters.

Hope OS is having those billboards taken down pronto.

Couple of things have struck me about this whole thing with Smith. It seems he is not who we thought he was and unfortunately I think OS fans are coming to that realization too. There is a video of him making the rounds on twitter where he openly says he knew he was leaving awhile back. Not gonna link it but it is easy to find. First thing is apparently no one told him it's not a good idea to burn a bridge. I get the coaching world is different than the jobs we all have but still never burning a bridge is a good thing to keep in mind. The second thing that seemed odd to me was when he did the interview with Canzano and said his agent was checking things out (not his exact words but close) he showed his hand. Again we all know how Canzano is when he gets nuggets like that. Seems the correct response to John would have been something along the lines of ' I am focused on the task at hand and that is the game against Oregon'. Can't imagine who his players felt when they heard that. I totally get the frustration of the OS fans and as Ducks we can certainly relate having endured Slick Willy and Mario. The net is all these guys lied. I hope Dan is seeing all this. I am guessing he is.

But the author made the point that he doesn’t think Stein moves. Given Trayler was passed over at TAMU, he could be a fit for UH. Could not see Stein making a lateral move as OC to UH.

Rumor is he injured his ribs in the UO game and has still not recovered.

Lanning knew Alexander from his Ga days. There's a reason he didn't want him. Word is he is not a hard worker and he's a 'me' guy.

Smith's comments were very interesting to say the least. Is he playing a leverage game with his AD, maybe. Putting it on his agent was an interesting take as well. I might have taken the high road here and said something like, 'John, I understand you asking but we have a big game this week and I am solely focused on that'. It's coachspeak for sure but Smith really fanned the flames IMO. Of course most anything he said or didn't say was going to be scrutinized but there are times when it's best to let the sleeping dogs lie for the moment.

As long as we have been debating Canzano in another thread, just wondering if it's okay to rain on Nick Daschel the Beav beat writer at the O? ( I never said I was noble ) He must be in total meltdown mode reading that the Beavs are underdogs. He would expect the Beavs to be favored heavily against Alabama and Georgia. Oh and he clearly hates the DUCKS big time.

You are correct Mic in that they will be in Vegas but the flight from Vegas to Eugene is not a long one and no matter what happens they fly back after the game. The coaches may leave separately and hit the road to recruit but one way or another the base will be covered.

Well they just lost a key cog in their OL. Their starting left guard is lost for the season with an injury. No details on what sort of injury. Never like to hear this, rival or not. Aside from this, I preface this with I am not a bettor nor do I fully understand how all that works in Vegas. What I do know is Vegas has been pretty accurate this year and while lines move a bit as the game gets closer (and this one may) I sure hope Vegas is 100% accurate this time.

JC claims in this mailbag column today that Smith is not interviewing for the MSU job. Basically says that is not Smith's MO and the AD is keeping him (Smith) apprised of all activity related to the 2024 football schedule. Herewith JC's response to this 'mailbag' question: Q: Rumors of Jonathan Smith having a second interview with Michigan State. What? How does all go by so secretly... where are the flies on the wall? Help me here I'm spiraling out of control. Does OSU have the money to offer Smith a raise to keep him or is the writing on the wall? — @RDammeyer A: The stoics will tell you that your worry is a waste. As Epictetus said: “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” I am told by multiple sources that Oregon State has been engaged daily with Smith and believes he’s on board with the plan for 2024. Remember, OSU extended his contract last December and may do so again in the coming days. Given the pace of the season right now and his focus, I’m skeptical that serious interviews have happened. Apologies to the message-board crowd at Michigan State, but it’s just not Smith’s style. We will soon hear about OSU’s plan for the 2024 football season. Smith told me he thinks next season’s schedule is coming together nicely. The Beavers will fund the program as if its a “Power 5” operation and play a competitive schedule. If that happens as planned, they will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth. Is that enough to keep him in Corvallis? We’ll see. Oregon State has 1-on-1 meetings planning with players after this Friday’s regular-season finale vs. Oregon. I expect those will take place Saturday and Sunday. I won’t be surprised if another contract extension announcement is part of the plan. The Beavers may lose Smith eventually. If the USC or Washington jobs came open, I’d be shocked if one or both didn’t ask to interview him. The NFL may call for him someday, too. But I’m not sold that Smith would ditch his alma mater for anything that isn’t a no-brainer career move.

Actually there is a book by Rick Page entitled Hope Is Not A Strategy which focuses on sales (my line of work) that is really well written. IMHO hope is what OS has relied on for too long and it has come back to bite them in the proverbial rear end. One thing I find interesting in talking with some OS comrades is their hesitancy in acknowledging that Phil has helped them immensely. It's almost like they are embarrassed to admit they had to get help from the DUCKS. They gladly take the help ($$$$$$) but don't want to tell anyone.

I am mystified by Jayden Daniels. I get he is in the SEC and yes, I saw that he had an impressive day on Saturday. He was clearly left in the game so he could pad his stats. Bo was out after one series in the 3rd quarter. Daniels' team is not in play for the SEC title. Sure they will go to a bowl but just not seeing him as the best player in college football which is what I thought the Heisman was about.

Aidan Chiles is a very interesting one. Are there rumblings he is restless?

Not to hijack this thread and the excellent article by Charles as well as this great discussion in any way ,but JC loves to position himself as a man of the people. He loves the OS (poor us) narrative because he feels like he is advocating for the 'common man'. John has never gotten over the fact that Chip Kelly publicly called him out when the Willy Lyles stuff was going on . John is in the entertainment business and he knows it. The OS narrative fits him perfectly. I find him amusing to observe. He has certainly tried to ingratiate himself with Dan and does his best to come off like he is one of Dan's confidantes. He is not.

Nope- don't see him going to TAMU. Then again in this crazy world of college football ........

I would not be surprised to see Chip end up in the NFL as an OC. Like we have all said and agree, he hates recruiting and hates glad handing with boosters. Those are essential elements to being a head coach in the college game now. Look how good Dan is at both. And to be more candid, Mario was not great with boosters either. He could be aloof and a little too surly. I just don't get that segment of the fan base that wants Chip back. I certainly liked him and totally appreciated what he did but he is no longer a fit at Oregon. Just my opinion.

I was told this issue has been more than emphasized and discussed this week in practice.